Despite comprising a large proportion of the rural poor with no access to energy, Indigenous Peoples suffer invisibility in terms of energy access. In addition to this, indigenous peoples are disproportionately disadvantaged by large-scale energy projects. Their territories often host renewable energy projects but their human rights are repeatedly not respected and communities have suffered displacement, conflicts and destruction of livelihoods.
The experiences of indigenous peoples in relation to energy projects such as large dams is a legacy of land-grabbing, forced eviction, destruction of livelihoods and ecosystems, and violence against women. Meanwhile, indigenous peoples sustainable resource management practices has a potential to ensuring a more sustainable source of energy especially for communities who are off grid and often do not have access to electricity.
Indigenous peoples are engaging in innovative renewable energy solutions and could be major contributors to solving problems around clean energy access and in achieving the climate targets. The Right Energy Partnership (REP) is an Indigenous-led collective endeavor to promote a rights-based approach to renewable energy development for the just transition that is also underpinned by equity and empowerment of indigenous women and communities to achieve the SDGs and protect the planet. It is thereby critical for indigenous peoples to be at the center of decision-making on energy projects that affect them, as well as to have access to community based renewable energy.
To support community led renewable energy projects, REP partnered with the UNDP through their Small Grants Programme (SGP) and the IFAD underpinning indigenous communities in addressing their need on access to energy. The event aims to:
● Highlight challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples on renewable energy projects and mining of transition minerals adversely impacting their rights;
● Highlight the experiences and initiatives of Indigenous Peoples on establishing and managing their own renewable energy systems; and
● Generate support and partnerships from various stakeholders on indigenous-led energy systems.